Merry Pranks of Master Till Science Curriculum Guide

Brass instruments rely heavily on harmonics, along with valves or slides, to create pitches. Every musical note has within it not only the fundamental pitch {the one you recognize as the note being played} but also many other notes above that fundamental. The organization of those other notes, and their relative strengths or weaknesses, give each instrument its unique sound. Brass instruments, in addition, can play notes in the harmonic series (a set pattern of notes beginning with the fundamental) with the same fingerings or slide position. Bugles have no valves to press or slides to move, so a bugle’s notes include only those in the harmonic series, beginning with the fundamental pitch “C”.

To see for yourself harmonics in action, try this experiment. You will need a piano (not a keyboard). First, press down slowly and gently (NOT making a sound with the keys) the following notes in order going up and hold them: middle C, G, C, E, G. Keep them held down! Press the right pedal with your foot and hold it down. Now have someone else play firmly and quickly (loudly!) the C one octave below the middle C you have held down. You should be able to hear all of the notes you have held down ringing as well as the note your friend played! That shows how the bottom note played actually has many different pitches in it and when the other keys are held down, their strings are able to vibrate along with the bottom note! Pretty cool!

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If you need help figuring out which notes are which, look at this online keyboard. Middle “C” is the one in the center of a full piano keyboard.

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Here is a great article that explains further the phenomenon of harmonics and how they relate to brass instruments.

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You can make your own horn using a garden hose, funnel, and some duct tape. Based on all you just learned about how a brass instrument makes sound, explain why this simple homemade instrument works.